Digital Equity Resources
Resources for Digital Equity
Request the most recent edition of NCDE’s free Guide to CRA Grantmaking for Digital Equity and Economic Inclusion
HUD ConnectHome USA’s stellar Playbook which guides communities in mobilizing to eliminate the digital divide for low-income families. A tremendous resource.
Report of the National Invitational Digital Equity Summit, March 5 – 6, 2018
The National Digital Inclusion Alliance’s excellent Digital Inclusion Alliance Guidebook.
Broadband
Comcast Internet Essentials High-speed Internet at 9.95/month + free modem + installation + discounted device
EveryoneOn* Referral to low-cost broadband providers nationwide
Kajeet Education Broadband* The company also offers very affordable solutions for putting wifi on school buses.
Spectrum Internet Assist High-speed Internet at $14.95/month
Devices
AFTRR* (map to programs offering free and low-cost refurbished computers)
Comcast Internet Essentials Discounted computer + low-cost broadband (see above)
Connection Public Sector Solutions* offers discounted computers and a wide range of other tech products
EveryoneOn* (discounted new computers)
Sage Sustainable Electronics* offers refurbished computers, for which banks can receive CRA credit
TechSoup offers refurbished computers for nonprofit groups.
Apps and Software
Appapedia‘s amazing searchable database of free and low-cost educational and productivity apps across all platforms
Tech Soup catalog of deeply discounted software for nonprofits and libraries
For Technical support
Cyber-Seniors* program that communities can launch teaching youths to provide tech support for seniors. See also their great
documentary.
GenYes* program that communities can launch teaching youths to provide tech support for adults (and fellow youths). Can be used to
teach linguistically diverse youths to provide multilingual tech support in the community. See also Ethel Guides’ slide show. See
here for research on GenYes’ validated, extraordinary impacts for disadvantaged students.
NTEN helps communities strengthen local nonprofits grow local tech support capacity
Librarian Assistance with Cybersafety and Information Literacy
Most of the American Library Association’s* local public libraries offer free access to broadband, devices and support using them safely
and effectively. They stand ready to assist with growing challenges of device addiction and cyberbullying.
Numeracy
Algebra Project has developed exceptionally effective, research-validated, culturally-responsive strategies that assist underrepresented, impoverished youths to excel in mathematics.
Financial Literacy Education
JumpStart’s national network of state affiliates helps schools and communities offer financial literacy programs.
Career Readiness for the Digital Age
ACT’s National Career Readiness Certificate offers free research-based instructional materials and assessment tools that enable
learners to earn a career readiness certificate recognized for academic credit by over 1000 postsecondary institutions and for
employment by employers across hundreds of fields.
Open Educational Resources
MERLOT* is a world-renowned, easily searchable repository of free learning resources for learners from preK through seniors.
National Science Digital Library offers exceptional educational resources in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields for learners of all ages.
SkillsCommons* is a highly regarded repository of free open learning resources for workforce training. They can develop customized portals for partners who wish to provide exemplary free learning resources in specific occupations.
ISKME’s OERCommons* provides well curated, free resources for creating free open courses.
TechGoesHome’s excellent Internet Skills Curriculum, some resources are tailored to learners in the Boston area but most are useful nationwide.
Universal Design for Learning (accessibility of learning resources for all learners)
UDL at a Glance – This short video introduces UDL from a K-12 perspective.
Tips for UDL Practice – CAST, the research organization that originated UDL theory and practice, provides concrete tips for teachers to put the concepts into effect.
UDL Guidelines – A set of research-based guidelines show explicit ways to apply the UDL principles to curriculum design.
Universal Design for Learning: Theory & Practice – Anne Meyer and David Rose, principal architects of UDL, provide a full-text, multimedia book explaining the ideas behind UDL. The resource is free with email registration.